The weather was super perfect, the Lord really blessed. There were thirty people who were 85 years young and above who registered. The oldest was Leonard Burns at 96 from Reydon, OK. The youngest person registering was Katie Green, three week old daughter of Michel and Amy Green of Cheyenne. The people who traveled the longest distance were Scott and Nancy Springer from Bothell, WA (1960 miles). They were part of the Springer crew who filled a float in the parade!
People 85 or older who registered were: Olive Payne, Lafayette McClellan, Meddie Bradley, Leroy Vick, Wrintha Krows, Leonard Burns, Mary Burns, Alice Welty, Collier Tracy, Lulu Ford, Tom Ford, Frances Young Fisher, Vashti Young Allen, John Chapman, Hardy Lowe Clay, Virginia Foster, Carl Mabra, John Little, Lucille Little, Beulah Isch, Seba West, Helen Ward, Alta Scott, Frank Calvert, Earl Archer, Rheba Green Burkhalter, Johnnie Olson, Marie Hiatt Grable and Lance Brown. Nineteen of these pioneers rode the Grand Marshal Float provided by the Security State Bank.
The whole week of activities had bigger crowds than expected. The CHS Auditorium was nearly full each night and it holds 750 people.
Registration was held each day at the Security State Bank. Black Kettle Museum had Image Through the Ages Display by the Arts Council. The Roll One-Room School had class each day.
Monday – Ribbon cutting of the Community Museum created from Miss Minnie Slief’s home and restored by the Historic RMC to preserve our communities’ histories and a Veteran’s Display.
Tuesday evening the Sorosis Club organized the Style Show of authentic dress and the copies. Dee Ann Ray was emcee. Winners were: Authentic (prior to 1925) Wanda Spurlock; Men’s Suit Bill Spurlock; Boys Outfit Connor Kirk. Copies of the Original Fashions Winners: Ladies who tied Nancy Hay and Becky Dougherty; Girls who tied were Alex McLeod and the Bright girls, Morgan, Kendra, Whitney and Laressa. Western Jennifer Wells and Alex McLeod. The stage was aptly decorated with a 1900’s pongee silk wedding dress loaned by Barbara Hay.
Wednesday – Over two hours of wonderfully talented people shared at the Non-Denominational Gospel Sing in the auditorium—uplifting all of us in HIM!
Thursday-A memorial to Jess Dooty, WWI veteran was in place at the Court House. That evening a variety of talent graced the stage at the school. Who can forget Mrs. Males and her troubles with the “corselette” and ALL the wide and varied entertainment.
Friday-Soil Judging Contest, Arts & Crafts Show at the old gym. Singing games for the elementary students were led by Paula Isch and her music classes. Dobson Telephone fed 1700 people at a free barbeque and the PRCA Rodeo followed by dances.
Saturday-THE BIG DAY arrived with runners in the 15 K Run from Strong City crossing the line on Main Street of Cheyenne. Winners were: Men Craig Mahl, Canute; Women Valerie Smith, Elk City. Antique Machinery Winners were: Oldest Frank Calvert’s tractor; People’s choice Stoney Scrivner. Vehicles Henry Andrews.
The parade had 122 entries with the following winners: Cheyenne FFA; Cheyenne Baptist Church; City of Cheyenne; Dobson Telephone; Cheyenne School Band; Santa Rose Riding Club of Vernon, Texas. The parade announces Charles Hickey, Jay Warren Chalfant and John Tracy.
The 1997 C&A Old Settlers Queen Bridget Schiffner, daughter of Lyndel and Gwenna Schiffner, Liberal, Kansas and granddaughter of David and Marilyn Wilson of Crawford. Bridget is the great-great granddaughter of J.J. “Monkey Jim” Wilson who made the run. “Monkey Jim farmed the lands as did his son Joe and now continuing the heritage is David.
The queen’s attendants are all descendants of men who made the Land Run in 1892. They are: Kari Wesner (Columbus Rogers and three others), Kylee Bryan (J.J. Wilson), LaDona Hughes (Fred Churchill), Chelsea Thomas (James Franklin Cole), Katie and Allison Thurmond (Erasmus Thurmond), Sara Wesner (Columbus Rogers and three others), Carol Ann Gwartney (Granville Allen), and MaKyla and Ashton Wilson (J.J. Wilson).
1997 Indian Princess is Leanna Threlkeld. “Nan” is the fifteen year old daughter of Charlene Threlkeld of Hammon and Barry Threlkeld of Los Angeles, CA. She is also the granddaughter of Frank and Christine Starr of Hammon and Marvin and Marge Threlkeld of Los Angeles, CA. Nan performed dances that afternoon which honored the people of Cheyenne for selecting her as the Indian Princess.
The former queens who rode their float were: 1922 Archie Anderson (the first selected queen) 1927 Frances Young Fisher; 1947 Pauline Porter Lippencott; 1952 Billie Wilson Reynolds; 1957 Lanita Maddux Carroll; 1962 Barbara Gaynor Seigman; 1967 Dana Thomas Hartley; 1972 Ann Churchill Peetom; 1977 Cathy Churchill; 1982 Jamie Maddux Allen; 1992 Rebecca Lippencott.
After the parade 1800 people enjoyed the barbeque prior to the final performance of the PRCA Rodeo. Meanwhile the CHS Alumni Basketball Game, which pits the odd year grads against the even year grads was enjoyed at the new gym.
Methodist and Baptist churches provided hospitality rooms. The downtown entertainment was in full swing. Fiddlers Contest winner was Mr. Selby, Amarillo, TX.
The judges in the Whiskers Contest had great fun in selecting: Handsome Walter Spurlin, Reydon; Most Unique Lloyd Teeter, Foss; Scruffiest John Smith. Followed by the Senior Citizen Spelling Bee. Winners 70 years and older was a nice lady from Amarillo, Texas and Mae Ferguson won for the 59-69 age group.
Many people made the trek up the hill to the Baptist Family Center and the terrific Quilt Show.
Saturday night you could choose among the Old Timers Dance, the Rodeo Dance or the CHS Alumni Banquet (390 people) and the Roger Mills Memories Program of slides, which pulled our heartstrings. If you had to pick one event that had the most attended and enjoyable….you would have to say “VISITING ON MAIN STREET”.